Leucaena inoculum for cattle

Cattle that are introduced to graze leucaena-based pastures in Queensland should be drenched with a probiotic containing bacteria that can break down a harmful toxin in the leucaena fodder tree (Leucaena leucocephala). The leaves, pods and seeds of leucaena all contain the toxic amino acid mimosine.

About leucaena inoculum

The leucaena inoculum contains a rumen bacterium (Synergistes jonesii) designed to break down mimosine to harmless by-products. Without the inoculum, cattle liveweight gain can be significantly limited. In some instances, the animal can die.

Animals should be grazing leucaena for around 7 days prior to inoculation so that there is leucaena material in the rumen for the inoculated bacteria to survive. Only 10% of the mob needs inoculating as the bacteria will naturally pass to the others. So while a 500ml bottle of inoculum contains 5 doses, it effectively treats 50 animals (5 dosed; 45 others picking it up from the 5 dosed animals).